Winter Weather Predictions For 2024/2025: Is Connecticut On Track For Some Major Snow Events?

Who's up for a good old-fashioned New England blizzard this winter? I'm talking about one of the big ones where you must shovel your way out of the house, and there's no school for a week! Let's examine three reputable meteorological websites to determine their predictions for Connecticut's 2024/2025 winter season.

** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Expect a milder winter in Connecticut. NOAA says there is a near 50/50 chance that Connecticut is leaning toward being warmer than it usually is in December, January, and February, which most likely translates into a lack of blizzard-type snowfall.

 ** Farmer's Almanac - Since 1792, the newest edition is chock full of wit and wisdom along with the much anticipated, traditionally "80% accurate weather forecasts." Their words, not mine...According to the Almanac's editor, Carol Connare, “While there will still be plenty of chilly temperatures and snow for most slopes, the high heating costs associated with the season shouldn’t hit so hard. We’re predicting a temperate, uneventful winter—potentially a welcome reprieve from the extremes of recent years.”**

** Accuweather - Recently, Accuweather released its 2024-25 forecast for Connecticut, saying that winter will have some “meteorological twists and turns” that could bring bursts of heavy snow and blasts of bitterly cold air. What does that really mean? Accuweather's chief meteorologist, Paul Pastelok said, “La Niña will be weak for most of the winter. A weaker La Niña can allow other signals to drive the pattern, more variability throughout the winter.”

Except for professional meteorologists, does anyone really care how El Nino and/or La Nina affect our weather?   El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs when the sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are warmer than usual. So, what about La Nina? Click this link to find out how El Nino and La Nina affect weather patterns throughout the United States. The bottom line appears to be there's an excellent chance that Connecticut will NOT see a deluge of the whiter stuff this winter.